Assam CM and Bodo leaders meet the Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh assures protection of cultural and linguistic identity and heritage of Assam and other North-Eastern States

New Delhi:

A delegation from Assam led by the Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal met the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi this weekend.
The delegation included Himanta Biswa Sarma, Senior Minister in Government of
Assam and some other BJP leaders of the State.
They discussed the issues related to safeguards for preserving the
cultural and linguistic identity and heritage of Assam and implementation of
Clause-6 of the Assam Accord and issues related to grant of tribal status to
six communities.

Several representatives of the Bodo groups including the
Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Muhilary, Chandan Brahma, Minister
from BPF in the State Government & Biswajit Daimary, MP also met the Union
Home Minister over the weekend and discussed the various outstanding demands of
Bodo community.

The Union Home Minister said that while introducing the
Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on 8th January, he had made it
abundantly clear that the Bill is not meant for the individuals belonging to
six minorities who have come from one particular country. It is also not meant
for individuals who are living in one particular State. At the same time, Rajnath
Singh said, it is a fact that Assam has borne the disproportionate burden of
migration due to religious persecution in our neighbouring countries.

The Union Home Minister said he had therefore made it clear
that Assam should not bear this burden alone.
It is the responsibility of the entire country and the burden should
also be shared by the entire country, he added.

Rajnath Singh said we are committed to helping the persons
belonging to six minority communities, who have been compelled to come to India
because of religious persecution in the three neighbouring countries. Those who qualify for citizenship under the
amended Citizenship Act would be free to reside and settle in any State, he
added.

The Union Home Minister said the Government will also expect
the recommendations of the High Powered Committee which has been set up to
suggest measures for implementation of the Clause-6 of the Assam Accord. The action taken by the Government to set
up this High Level Committee is a landmark step in the direction of preserving
the cultural, linguistic identity of Assam. This Committee has a very broad
mandate. Rajnath Singh urged all those, who have the interest of Assam and the
Assamese people in their hearts, to take advantage of this historic
opportunity.

The Union Home Minister said the decision to grant tribal
status to six communities should also be seen in the same spirit. He assured the
Bodo leaders that this decision will be implemented only after ensuring that
the political and employment related privileges and rights of the existing
tribes in Assam are fully protected.
Necessary modalities for this will be worked out by the State Governments
in consultation with all the stakeholders.

Rajnath Singh said certain misgivings about the Citizenship
Amendment Bill are being spread. As
Union Home Minister had said in his Statement in the Lok Sabha on 8th January
and again in the Rajya Sabha on 9th January, the Government is fully committed
to preserving the cultural and linguistic identity and heritage of Assam as
well as the other States in the North East.

The Union Home Minister will soon be calling a meeting of
the Chief Ministers of the concerned States.
They will further discuss about the safeguards that need to be provided
for protecting the interests of these States & protecting their cultural
& linguistic identity.